Forming apparatus



April 17, 1956 A. WILLIAMS 2,742,073

FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1952 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. fiRTHuR L. Wuumws Hff'ame y April 17, 1956 WILLIAMS 2,742,078

FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 17, 1956 A. L. WILLIAMS 2,742,078

FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1952 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 11 57 so F +8 6 Ezd l a 7 a II" n f" Wm rll llluwllm 4.1 INVENTOR. [z HRTHuR L. Wuunms Hrrorney United States Patent FORMING APPARATUS,

Arthur-L. Williams, Warren, Ohio, assignortoTh'e. Federal Machine and-Welder Company, Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 20, 1952, Serial No. 2%,"663

4 Claims. (Cl. 15354) The present invention relates to forming apparatus, more particularly to apparatus for forming generally flat sheet material into a cylindrical or curved shape, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved apparatus of the class described.

Inthe past. wide use has been made of apparatus for forrning generally fiat sheet material into a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical shape. This apparatus usually provides a plurality of rolls through which the sheet material is adapted to be fed and which are so arranged that the sheet is formed to the desired shape. However, one fault common to prior art devices is failure of the apparatus to form both the leading and trailing ends of the sheets to the same curvature as the center portion. This fault common to prior art apparatus leads to poorly formed workand, as is often the case, necessitates further operations before the formed stock can be considered satisfactory.

My. invention provides appartus which will form generally flat sheet material into cylindrical or curved shape with great rapidity and accuracy. Manufacturing costs are reduced with the use of my apparatus since a sheet is accurately. formed in a single operation. Furthermore, my apparatus may be easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate various gages of sheet material andto vary the diameter of the cylinder formed. These and other advantages will become apparent from a study of the following description and from the drawings appended thereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming apart of this application there isshown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure l'is an end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a broken, fragmentary side elevational'view of the appartus illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view generally corresponding to the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in Figure '3 but illustrating another position of certain operating parts,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 5'5 of Figure 1, and.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 66 of Figure 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, the embodiment chosen to illustrate my invention comprises an elongated frame 10 adapted to be secured to a supporting member 11. The supporting member 11 may be any suitable structure; for example, the member 11 may be a portion of the frame of a welding machine or the like. Supports 12 and 13 'are secured to respective ends of the frame 10.by means of bolts 14 (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) and the supports 12 are adapted to rotatably support a pair of pinch rollers 15, 16. Although not shown in the drawings, each roll 15, 16 extends rearwardly beyond support 13 and the rolls are adapted to be driven in unison by any suitablemeans.

Patented Apr. 17, 1956 As best shown in Figure 5, the roll 16 is rotatable in a bearing 17 that is carried by the support 12. A cap 18, secured to the support 12 by means of screws 19, provides a dust seal and securely holdsv the bearing in place. It .will be understood that a similar arrangement is providedfor supporting the roll 16 in the housing 13.

Each support 12, 13 is formed with an openingltlto closely receive. a chock 21, and each chock is slidable within its respective opening toward and away from the roll 16. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the chock 21 is provided with a bearing 22 for rotatably supporting the roll 15, a similar arrangement being provided in the support 13.for supporting the opposite. end of the roll. Each chock has a plate 23 secured thereto by means of screws 24, and these plates keep the checks properly aligned intheir respective supports.

As shown in Figures 1 andS, springs 25are interposed between each chock 21 and the bottom of the opening in respective supports 12, 13. These springs yieldably urge each chock 21 upwardly and thus urgethe rolls 15, 16 apart.

Means are provided to adjust the spacingbetween the rolls 15, 16 and such means presently includes worm wheels 26, 27 carried by shafts 28. Each shaft 28 is rotatable in a respective support. 12, 13, and i. as shown in Figure 5, each shaft bears against a respective chock 21. Each shaft 28 is. threadably engaged with a nut member 29 carried by each support. Each worm wheel 26, 27 is keyed to its shaft 28 as shown so thatrotation of a worm wheel will rotate the shaft, the construction being such that each shaft 28 may shift axially with respect to its worm wheel. .From. the foregoing it will be apparent that rotation of a worm wheel will effect axial movement of a respective shaft 28 andlthis will move roll 15 toward roll 16 or will permit thesprings to move roll 15 away from roll 16 depending upon the direction of rotation of a respective worm wheel.

Unitary rotation of worm wheels 26, 27 is presently effectedby rotatably supporting a shaft 30 in brackets 31 carried by supports 12, 13. Worms 32 are. secured to the shaft 30 between brackets 31 in position to engage with respective worm Wheels 26,. 27. A handwheel 33 is secured to the shaft 30 tofacilitate. rotation of the shaft and thus effect unitary rotation of the worm wheels and simultaneously move both ends of theroll 15.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the nut members 29 are secured to respective supports 12, 13 by means of'studs 34 which freely pass through the nut member andare anchored in respective supports. Nuts 35 and a washer 36 are carried by each stud 34 and aspring 37 'is interposed between each washer 36 and the nut member 29 in order to hold the nut member. in the position shown. As will be apparent, the nut member 29 will be forced upwardlyv against the compressionv of the springs 37 in the event an unduly thick piece of stock is passed between the pinch rolls 15, 16. This construction provides an overload release to prevent damage to the apparatus in the event it is improperly adjusted for the. stock being fed, and'adjustment of the nuts 35 permits the spring tension to be varied to adjust the. pressure release point as required.

As shown in the various drawings, a deflector roll member 38 supports a plurality of deflector rollers 39 adjacent to the inlet of the pass formed by the rolls 15, 16; These deflector rollers are engageable with the stock fed between the pinch rolls 15, 16 (see Figure 3), the rollers deflecting the stock about. thel'fulcrum provided by the pass formed by the pinch rolls. and thus forming the stock to cylindrical or curved shape.

The member 38-has an end plate 40 secured thereto by meansof bolts 41, and although'not shown in the drawings, it isdto be understood that'the other end of the deflector roll member is provided with asimilar end u) plate. Each end plate 4% is rotatably carried on an axial extension of the roll by means of a bearing 42. A cap 43, similar in all respects to cap 13, is secured to end plate 43.

The deflector roll member 38 is provided with paired lugs 44, each pair of lugs being adapted to receive therebetween one end of a link 45. A pin 46 passes through respective paired lugs 44 and through a respective link 45 to pivotally secure the lugs and the link together. The opposite end of each link 45 is carried by an eccentric .7 that is keyed to an eccentric shaft 4-8. The eccentric shaft 43 is rotatably supported by lugs 49 and 50 which project laterally from the frame 10.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, means are provided to effect rotation of the shaft 48 together with its eccentrics 47, and such means presently comprises a handle '51 secured to the shaft 48. As seen in Figure l, the

lug 49 is formed to provide a curved slot 52, and a looking bolt 53 passes through the slot and is anchored in the handle 51. As will be clear, movement of the handle 51 will rotate the eccentrics 47, and through the construction just described, the deflector rollers 39 will be shifted so as to form the stock to a larger or smaller radius.

A plurality of deflector rollers 3% are positioned on the outlet side of the pass formed by the pinch rolls 15, 16, and thus are positioned opposite to that of the deflector rollers 39. This construction is similar to the construction employed with respect to rollers 39, and Where appropriate, similar parts are identified with the same number but having the suffix a. The rollers 39a are normally held out of engagement with the stock as shown in Figure 3, but are adapted to be shifted to engagement with the stock when the trailing end thereof has become disengaged from rollers 39 (see Figure 4).

The means presently employed to efiect movement of rollers 39a toward and away from the stock comprises the previously mentioned parts having the suffix a and in addition comprises the following parts:

A fluid operated cylinder 54 is pivotally secured to a clevis 55 carried by a plate 56 secured to lugs 57 on the frame 10. A threaded shank portion 58 of the clevis 55 extends through an aperture in the plate 56 and nuts 59 are threaded on the shank portion and are disposed on opposite sides of the plate 56 to adjustably secure the clevis 55 thereto. A piston rod 60 of the cylinder 54 is pivotally secured to a clevis-like lever 61 that is adapted to be clamped about the eccentric shaft 48a. An adjustable stop screw 62 extends from the lever 61 as shown and is engageable with a projection 63 carried by the frame 10 (see Figures 3 and 4).

Operation of my improved apparatus for forming sheet material will now be described: The hand-wheel 33 must first be positioned so as to properly space the rolls 1e", 16. The handle 51 may be adjusted so as to properly position the rollers 39 for the radius desired and the stock to be formed may then be fed between the rotating rolls. As best shown in Figure 3, the stock will be formed by the rollers 39 about the fulcrum provided by the pass formed by the rolls l5, 16, the rollers 390 being in their normal position spaced from the stock.

As shown in Figure 3, a switch 64 controls operation of the cylinder 54 through a conventional solenoid valve or the like and the switch is positioned so that the stock engages the actuator 65 thereof and holds it in the full line position shown. However, when the trailing edge of the stock passes the switch 64, the actuator 65 will assume the dotted line position and this will effect outward movement of the piston rod 60.

As best shown in Figure 4, outward movement of the piston rod 60 will effect rotation of the eccentric shaft 48a and thus position the rollers 39a for engagement with the stock. It is to be understood that the movement of the rollers 39a into engagement of the stock is correlated with the stock travel so that such movement occurs substantially simultaneously with the disengagement of the trailing edge of the stock with the rollers 39. It will now be clear that the rollers 39a will form the trailing end of the stock in the same manner as the rollers 39 formed the preceeding portion thereof. It will also be clear that my apparatus will form all portions of the stock to the same radius without overor underforming any portion thereof.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming bendable sheet material, comprising a pair of pinch rolls engageable with opposite sides of the sheet to be formed, and thereby providing a pass through which said sheet is movable, first means positioned to engage said sheet at the entrance side of said pass and to form the same about the fulcrum provided by said pass, second means at the exit side of said pass and mounted for movement toward and away from engagement with the sheet leaving said pass, and means for selectively holding said second means out of forming engagement with said sheet at the time the leading portion of the same is moving through said pass and for automatically moving said second means into forming engagement with said sheet approximately at the time a trailing portion of said sheet is positioned adjacent to said pass, whereby such trailing portion is formed by said second means about the fulcrum provided by said pass.

2. Apparatus for forming bendable sheet material, comprising a pair of pinch rolls engageable with opposite sides of the sheet to be formed and thereby providing a pass through which said material is movable, first means at the entrance side of said pass positioned for abutment with said sheet as it approaches and is moved through said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, second means movably supported at the exit side of said pass and adapted to be positioned for abutment with said sheet as it leaves said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, operating means for moving said second means in a direction toward said sheet, and control means near said pass and at the entrance side of said pass and cooperable and in line with said sheet as it moves toward said pass, said control means being respectively moved to its control positions by the presence and absence of said sheet in line with said control means, said control means being moved to position to effect operation of said operating means and movement of said second means in a direction toward said sheet when said sheet has passed said control means on its way to said pass.

3. Apparatus for forming bendable sheet material, comprising a pair of pinch rolls engageable with opposite sides of the sheet to be formed and thereby providing a pass through which said material is movable, first means at the entrance side of said pass positioned for abutment with said sheet as it approaches and is moved through said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, second means movably supported at the exit side of said pass and adapted to be positioned for abutment with said sheet as it leaves said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, operating means for moving said second means in a direction toward said sheet, and control means near said pass and at the entrance side of said pass and having an actuating member engageable with said sheet as it approaches said pass to hold said control means in one position, said actuating member moving said control means to its other position when the trailing end of said sheet passes said actuating member on its way to said pass and said control means in said other position effecting operation of said operating means to move said second means in a direction toward and into engagement with the sheet at the exit side of said pass.

4. Apparatus for forming bendable sheet material, comprising a pair of pinch rolls engageable with opposite sides of the sheet to be formed and thereby providing a pass throughwhich said material is movable, first deflector means at the entrance side of said pass positioned for I abutment with said sheet as it approaches and is moved through said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, second deflector means movably supported at the exit side of said pass and adapted to be positioned for abutment with said sheet as it leaves said pass to bend said sheet about the fulcrum provided by said pass, operating means for moving said second means in a direction toward said sheet, and an electrical limit switch for effecting operation of said operating means, said limit switch being positioned near said pass so that its control member is engaged and moved to one position by the sheet moving into said pass and said control member being biased to its other position and moving to such other position when said sheet has moved through said pass sufiiciently to interrupt its engagement with said control member, said operating means being operated when said control member is in its said other position to move said second deflector means in a direction toward said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 39,382 Delamater Aug. 4, 1863 318,097 Evarts et al. May 19, 1885 417,553 Fowler Dec. 17, 1889 1,782,483 Snyder Nov. 25, 1930 1,837,209 Dallas Dec. 22, 1931 2,179,011 Hudson Nov. 7, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 259,643 Germany May 10, 1913 794,890 France Dec. 26, 1935 

